Welcome to Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge

Credit: USFWS

Lacassine
National Wildlife Refuge is located at 209 Nature Road, at the end
of Highway 3056, eleven miles southwest of Lake Arthur, Louisiana off
Hwy. 14. The office is open year round, weekdays only, from 7:30 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m., excluding federal holidays. Portions of the refuge are
open year round from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.
Please consult refuge brochures or contact the refuge office for more
details. Vicinity and refuge maps are available.

Refuge staff are responsible
for managing the nearly 35,000 acre refuge, most of which is freshwater
marsh habitat. The refuge preserves a major wintering site for waterfowl
in the United States. Historical wintering duck populations and geese
at Lacassine are among the largest in the National Wildlife Refuge
System. The sanctuary provided at Lacassine Pool is critical to the
long-term viability of continental pintail populations and is one of
the key pintail wintering areas in the continent, with a wintering
pintail population that has reached almost 400,000 - which is 50% to
80% of the entire southwest Louisiana midwinter survey.

Most wildlife species found
on the refuge are those indigenous to the marshes of coastal Louisiana.
Nesting colonies of wading birds, alligators, and furbearers such as
mink, otter, and raccoon are found on the refuge. Threatened and endangered
species that have used the refuge include bald eagles, peregrine falcons,
and Louisiana black bear.

Recreational opportunities
are available. Hunting and fishing are two of the most popular refuge
activities. Bird watching is also very popular, with a bird list available
at the refuge or online. A nature drive, foot trails, and observation
towers are available year-round. An active volunteer program provides
additional opportunities and students are able to earn college credits
through an internship at the refuge.

To stay informed about ….Louisiana;
please view additional links from the SW LA National Wildlife Refuge
Home page at http://www.fws.gov/swlarefugecomplex for the most updated
information about refuge programs.